In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast, Akakandelwa Kandepwe sits down with Julius Luwaya, founder of Peza Foods, to unpack his journey from aspiring NGO professional to food entrepreneur. Julius shares how rejection in 2021 became the catalyst for launching Peza Foods — now a growing retailer of traditional and forest foods, including legally sourced game meat. The conversation explores the realities of operating in a black-market-influenced industry, navigating permits and compliance, scaling strategically, and preserving Zambian cultural identity through food. Julius also offers practical advice for young entrepreneurs: start early, stay resourceful, build a strong financial foundation, and treat failure as part of the process.

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